Stereoscope



Nov. ,22, 1927. l 1,649,878

J. B.- wANTz sTEREoscoPE Filed oct. 16. 1924 2 Sheets-sheet 1 I \N\IENTOK JUUUS 5. WRHTL ATTO HEY Nov. 22, 1927.

1,649,878 J. B. WAN-rz i STEREOSCOPE Y Filed Oct. 16. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS B. WANTZ, F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 VICTOR X-RAY CORPORA- TION, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STEREOSCOPE.

Application med Dctober 16, 1924.4 Serial No. 743,958.

The present invention relates to stereoscopes and has particularly to do with one adapted for use to view both raygraphs and X-ray negatives.

It is among the objects of the invention `to provide a device which will serve with equal facility with respect to both types ofv X-ray photographs, to design means for the distribution of the illumination employed 1o in conjunction with the examination of such raygraphs and X-ray lilms t'hat such illumination will be dispersed in substantially the same manner as the rays from the X-ray tube were distributed in procuring the plctures under inspection, and to properly ventilate such an apparatus to prevent overheating of negatives no matter how long they may be disposed therein in the course of study.

These, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, are attained by the novel construction,- combination, and arrangement of the novel apparatus illustrated' in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, hereby made a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is an elevation of a complete device embodying the invention herein described;

Figure 2 is an elevation of one of the light boxes employed in said device;

Figure 3 is a top View of said box;

Figure 4 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 5 is a detail in elevation of a modified form of the device; and

Figure 6 is a vertical section of the tube stand on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, a fractional portion of such stand only being illustrated.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the drawings and in the disclosure of the invention hereinafter made.

Reference should be had to Figure 1. Upon a base 10 which may comprise several members joined together or which may be integrally formed, are disposed legs 11, adapted to spread outwardly for the purpose of supporting the device. At the out-l ward extremity of one or all of legs 1 1 may be a device 12 for.facilitatinglevell-ing the apparatus upon an uneven Hoor surface.

Secured to the base 10 is a standard 13 comprising a hollow vertical tube at the top of which is secured a locking collar 14 having the usual locking unit. Within the standard 13 is disposed a second standard 15, hereinafter called the inside standard, which is hollovt7 (see Figure 6) and in which is ldisposed a coil spring 16, the top end of which spring abuts the wall of inside standard 15 at its top. The bottom end of said spring 16 is seated upon the wall at the bottom of standard 13. Said spring 16 is for the single purpose of bearing a portion of the weight of the apparatus disposed upon the base 10 so that said apparatus may be readily moved upwardly or downwardly from a normal balanced position in order to adjust the apparatus to an operator who, according to his personal whims, may prefer to stand up or to sit' down while examining negatives or raygraphs. Locking collar 14 secures the apparatus in any adjusted position desired. Ordinarily the balanced position is intermediate the levels 0ccupied by the device when being used by a person of Anormal stature in standing posture and when seated.

Projecting "outwardly from standard l5 are two members 17 comprising arms or brackets whereby to provide a track frame, track members 18 being secured thereto in parallel relation. Upon said tracks 18 and at opposite ends thereof are two movable carriages 19, one designated a right hand carriage and the other a left hand carriagp. Said carriages are the'same except one is t e reverse of the other.

Said carriages 19 are yadapted to vbe concurrently and equally moved toward and away from the center f of the apparatus, which center rests in a line projected upwardly from the axis of standard 15, by an apparatus comprising cables and pulleys not here shown but common to the art. In this way X-ray pictures may be placed away from the eye a distance equal to the distance from the X-ray tube to said ictures in order that the true dimensions and proportions of the photographed objects may be visualized. A -scale of distances may be provided for the convenience of the operator.

4 For controlling the strength of the light in v the boxes hereinafter to be described, a rheostat 2() having an operating handle 21 is disposed upon the arms 17 beneath tracks 18.

At the'center of the apparatus and disposed upon a base 2 2 secured to tracks 18 is a standard supporting a member 23, provided with means for angular adjustment designated 24) and tilting adjustment designated 25) of its upper section 26, upon which last mentioned section 26 is disposed a pair of mirrors 27, eared to operate conjomtly when the angu ar adjustment of one or the other is changed. At the top of said section 26 is a cross arm 28 from the ends of which depend pivotally mounted shields or wings 29 of opaque material. Said shields or blinds 29 provide means for avoiding or shutting ofi:l the undesirable effects of the direct or reiected light` produced by the illuminating apparatus which will shortly hereinafter be disclosed, while the adjustability of the mirrors 27 permits the operator to view the X-ray images in a convenient and correct relation to the object from which taken.

Upon each 0f the carriages 19 is a base 30 which provides a support for a box 31 of a generally truncated pyramid configuration or form. Said box 31 at its back end is provided with a centrally disposed lamp socket 32, in which a bulb 33 project.- ing horizontally and inwardly of said box is disposed. The axis of said lamp 33 coincides with the axis or centerline of box 31, and ordinarily and preferably a lamp having a point or ring ilament concentrating the light rays is employed.

At the frontend of said box 31 is a frame 34 in which is included a translucent glass pane 35. Upon the top of said frame 1s a roller shade 36 having a guide rod 37 at the side thereof, said shade 36 having an an ular guide member 37a, one section of which is aligned with the free end of the shade 36 While the other section forms a slidable sleeve about said rod 37. A second roller shade 38' is disposed at one side of box 31 and is provided with a guide rod 39 across the top of said box 31, an angular guide member 39, similar to member 37 cooperating with said shade 38 and rod 39 to keep said shade in proper alignment. A channel may be arranged in frame 34 at the bottom of glass 35 to support plates, films or raygraphs as the case may be. The curtains 36 and 38 support such X-ray photographs at two of their other edges and exclude light from passing to the side of said image reproductions. It is usual to dispose the fourth side of such ictures at the edge of box 31 opposite ro ler shade 38 or adjacent rod 37. A picture held b sad shades can not be accidentally disp Between the fra-me 34 and box 31 at the top and bottom thereof, it is desirable to provide air slots, such slots being clearly visible in Figure 3 where they are designnated 40. In order to provide suchrslots 40, it is customary to secure the box 31 at its top and bottom by fingers 40 projecting rearwardly from the frame 34. A shade or canopy not shown may be arranged at the top and bottom of frame 34 for arresting light rays escaping through slots 40 but these should be sufficiently removed from said slots 40 so as not to prevent a free circulation ofv air therethrough.

Secured to the upper section of frame 34 is an arm 41, generally bent, and at the end of which is disposed a refiector 41a having its open side toward and at an angle to the front of box 31, the reflecting surface of said member 41a being adapted to concentrate the major portion of the light rays emanating from a bulb 42 disposed in a socket upon said arm 41 and surrounded by reiector 41*l at the most central section of a raygraph held upon frame member 34.

In Fiffure 4, a diagrammatic representation of ight distribution in the apparatus is shown. Whether the bulb 33 is lighted as it is in the case of films or plates, or the bulb 42 is used as is done when a raygraph is disposed at the front of the box 31 and upon glass 35, the most intense light produced is directed toward the center of the front ofsaid box 31 with the intensity of such light decreasing as the edges of frame 34 are approached, as is indicated in said Figure 4. v

This distribution of light is adopted because in the production of X-ray pictures,

Whether they be films,lplates or raygraphs,l

(a raygraph being a direct X-ray picture upon a sensitized photographic paper), the most intense X-rays affect the center of the film, plate or raygraph and that part of the object photographed upon the center of the film is nearest the X-ray bulb and' hence, most contrasted. The intensity of the X-ray effects decreases'as the margins of the film or raygraph are approached,

for reasons quite manifest to any one skilled in X-ray photography.

IIn the manner herein described, the lightv upon the film or raygraph held in this device is made to correspond with the intensity of the X-ray illumination used in makin the pictures, and a lighting of the film, v ate or raygraph is obtained identical with or substantially identical with the distribution of the penetrating and photographing rays from the X-ray tube.

In Figure 5, a modified form of the device is Shown. 'Upon a member 26", which corre-v sponds to member 26 in Figure 1, a tunnelled member 50 is shcown. This comprisestwo truncated cone sections joined at their Smallest radiuses at which point and within said Sections a socket v51 is mounted. Vithin vthe socket 51 and vertically disposed is a lamp 52, the rays of which are adapted to proceed outwardly from the open ends of said tunnel 50 to illuminate raygraphs held in the boxes 31 at the opposite ends of track 1B in Figure 1. The advantage of this construction is the elimination of the two separated lamp brackets 41, and the obtaining film or plate thereupon secured. By placing the slots 40 at the top and bottom of box 31 adjacent pane 35, ventilation is secured. A current or film of constantly changing air is drawn upwardly through the said slots 40 vertically vacross the back surface of said pane 35 which is in this manner kept cool.

vRheostat 20 controls either the bulbs 33 or bulbs 42. Variability in said lights is essential for the purpose of securing the best reading light for each particular image reproduction. The most effective .light adjustment can only be fixed concurrently with the examination of each reproduction. Itis advantageous to control eachv set of lights from a single rheostat for it makes it unnecessary for the operator to learn new movements.

1. A stereoscope comprising the combination of a frame, means upon said frame for holding a photographic reproduction for examination, a point' source of illumination 'at the rear thereof, and reiector means in association with said source of illumination and adapted to distribute its light in va manner substantially uniform with the distribution' of the X-light used in exposing the reproduction held in said stereoscope.

2. In combination in a stereoscope, a frame, means upon said frame for holding photographic reproductions, sources of illumination carried by said frame for illuminating said reproductions, and an extensible stand for said stereoscope comprising a support adapted to secure said frame in a horizontally rotatable position and having as a part thereof a member adapted to urge said support into extended position.

3. In combination with a stereoscope, boxes having faces for holding photographic reproductions, a source of illumination for said reproductions, a frame for said boxes,

and a stand for said frame, said stand comprising an adjustable columnar support having relatively adjustable sections and providing means for horizontal rotatable movement, said sections having means adapted to normally urge them into exten-ded position.

4. In combination with a stereoscope, a box having a face and means for holding a photographic reproduction thereagainst, a point source of illumination at the center and back of said box, and an external'source of illumination comprising a light, a bracket, and a reflector aixed thereto, said reiector having reflecting surfaces for distributing the light from said external source upon said face in substantially the same manner as the rays from said internal light aredistributed.v

5. A stereoscope comprising means for holding photographic reproductions, a source of illumination for said reproductions, and a support of relatively adjustable sections, admitting of unitary horizontal rotary movement of said meansfor holding said reproductions and being adjustable to raised and lower the plane of such horizontal movement, said sections having an intermediate spring member adapted to urge them into extended position.

JULIU S B. WANTZ. 

